Anxiety Disorders
The Symptoms and Available Treatments Explained
Research conducted by the Department of Health and Ageing suggests that feelings of anxiety often are a result of life experiences, such as job loss, relationship breakdowns, illnesses, serious accidents or even the death of a loved one.
Therefore it is important to understand the difference between feeling anxious for a good reason, such as before an exam, compared to the symptoms of an anxiety disorder. According to Beyond Blue, anxiety disorders often arise from a combination of illnesses characteristed by persistent feelings of high anxiety, and extreme discomfort or tension (BeyondBlue, 2009).
Research from Beyond Blue suggests that people are more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when their level of anxiety becomes so extreme that it interferes with their daily life and prevents the individual from doing the activities that he/she wants to do.
Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness, affecting one in 20 people and often begin in early adulthood. However, anxiety disorders can begin at any age and women are often more prone to experiencing anxiety disorders compared to men.
Research from a study on depression and anxiety from BeyondBlue suggest that only one in five people whose complaint was only an anxiety disorder did not seek professional help and tried to manage their anxiety disorder without professional help.
Anxiety disorders often come out of the blue without any apparent reason and are often accompanied by extreme physical sensations, such as shortness of breath, palpitations, clammy hands.
Symptoms of anxiety can include the following:
- sweating
- trembling
- abdominal distress
- dizziness
- sensation of pins and needles
- feelings of loss of control and/or feelings of impending doom.
Anxiety disorders can affect the way an individual feels, thinks and behaves and if not treated can really cause a considerable amount of stress and disruption to the individual suffering from anxiety disorders and/or close friends and family. However, luckily treatment of anxiety is extremely effective.
Treatment
Anxiety can be very effectively treated and although each disorder has its own specific characteristics, most respond well to psychological treatments and/or medication. Treatments combining both psychological therapy and medication often have better long-term results.
Effective treatment for anxiety disorders include psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavorial therapy (CBT), which is aimed at changing patterns of thinking, behaviours, and beliefs that trigger anxiety. Therapy may also include gradually exposing an individual to situations that trigger their anxiety also known as desensitisation.
Anxiety Management and Relaxation Techniques
Anti-depressant medication also plays an important role in the treatment of some anxiety disorders as well as treating associated or underlying depression.
Anti-anxiety medications that specifically influence the neurotransmitter system in the brain are also sometimes helpful. However, medication will not cure anxiety disorders but will rather keep the symptoms under control while an individual receive psychological treatment.
Sources:
"Effectiveness of Complimentary and Self-Help Treatments for Anxiety Disorders" A. F. Jorm & Christenson, H., et al. (2009). Retrieved From BeyondBlue (Australia) on 1 December 2009.
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